Madeleine Ruger and Tysai Washington
Daemen College history majors Madeleine Ruger and Tysai Washington have each been selected to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
Ruger, a Hamburg resident, will study Czech language, literature, and history this spring semester at Charles University in Prague. In addition to the Gilman Scholarship, Ruger received Daemen’s Gianadda Study Abroad Scholarship, which supports students with achieving their study abroad goals.
Washington, who resides in Bronx, will travel to Poland this summer, where she will take a history course and participate in a service learning experience aimed at creating a virtual “memory trail” that will focus on important sites related to World War II and the Holocaust.
The Gilman Scholarship, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is intended to help U.S. students gain proficiency in diverse languages and learn about other cultures to support their academic and career goals.
Congressman Gilman retired in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee.
“Study abroad is a special experience for every student who participates,” said Benjamin A. Gilman. “Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience. It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world, encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than a spectator in the international community.”
Since the Gilman Scholarship program began in 2001, more than 31,000 scholarships have been awarded to students across the country. Recipients must use the scholarship funds toward study or intern abroad costs, including program tuition, room and board, international airfare, and other related expenses.